A familiar holiday song can bring several generations into the same moment. This December, Stockton Symphony will give that shared experience a local cast: a singer whose training included University of the Pacific, young choristers from the community and an orchestra celebrating a century of music-making.
Vocalist Filo Ebid joins music director and conductor Peter Jaffe, the Stockton Symphony and the Stockton Youth Chorale for Holiday Pops: Celebrate the Season at Atherton Auditorium. Audiences can choose between two separate performances: Saturday, December 5, at 6 p.m., or Sunday, December 6, at 2:30 p.m.
The announced music ranges from Frozen and The Nutcracker to “Sleigh Ride,” “O Holy Night,” a Christmas carol sing-along and Symph-Hanukkah. Together, those selections offer several entry points for families, whether a listener first encountered holiday music in a film, at home or in a concert hall.
From Pacific's stages to a national audience
For Stockton listeners, Ebid's appearance comes with a connection that predates television. He graduated from University of the Pacific in 2023 with a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance. Pacific's account of his training identifies voice study with Daniel Ebbers and acting study with James Haffner, along with leading roles in Pacific Opera Theatre productions.
In 2025, Ebid reached the Top 12 in the 23rd season of American Idol. Pacific's overview of his performances and university years traces a competition run that began with a Platinum Ticket and included songs such as “Bridge over Troubled Water” and “Skyfall.” That background gives local audiences a chance to connect the televised performer with an artist who developed part of his craft here.
The holiday concert brings him into a different setting from a televised competition. With an orchestra, conductor and youth ensemble sharing the bill, the emphasis shifts toward a collective musical experience. For Pacific alumni and community members who follow the Conservatory's graduates, it is another opportunity to hear where that training can lead.
Young voices make the community connection audible
The Stockton Youth Chorale adds a particularly meaningful local presence. According to the Stockton Chorale's youth ensemble information, the group serves singers in grades three through eight with unchanged voices. Its program develops ensemble skills through rehearsals and performance, including music in multiple parts.
Hearing young singers alongside professional instrumentalists can make the stage feel more connected to everyday community life. For families in the audience, the performers may be closer in age to their own children than the artists usually seen at an orchestral concert. For young listeners, that can make participation in local music easier to imagine.
The collaboration also reflects an existing relationship between local musical organizations. The Stockton Chorale identifies the Symphony among its regular collaborators. Holiday Pops gives that relationship a seasonal setting, with the youth ensemble helping bring the next generation into the orchestra's centennial year.
A program with room for different holiday memories
The mix of selections is part of the concert's appeal. Music from Frozen offers a connection to family filmgoing, while The Nutcracker brings a ballet tradition into the orchestral program. The Christmas carol sing-along explicitly invites audience participation, and Symph-Hanukkah adds a Hanukkah element to the announced celebration.
The Symphony has not posted a complete running order or identified which artist will perform every selection. What it has announced suggests a program that moves among screen music, concert traditions and songs associated with the season. Families can approach it through music they recognize while leaving room to discover a different sound or arrangement.
Offering a Saturday evening and a Sunday afternoon performance gives San Joaquin County households two scheduling options. These are separate concerts, so patrons should select the date they intend to attend when buying tickets.
Planning your visit
Both official ticketing pages list a $17–$71 ticket range. Visit Stockton lists student and children's admission at $12 and adults from $17. Families should confirm discount eligibility, ticket fees and current seat availability with the Symphony box office at (209) 951-0196. Official performance end times have not been announced.
Event Details
- Event: Stockton Symphony Holiday Pops: Celebrate the Season
- Performance 1: Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 6 p.m.
- Performance 2: Sunday, December 6, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
- End times: Official end times have not been announced. The dates represent two separate performances.
- Location: Atherton Auditorium, San Joaquin Delta College, 5151 Pacific Avenue, Stockton
- Admission: Official ticketing lists $17–$71 for each performance. Visit Stockton lists $12 student and children's admission; confirm eligibility, fees and availability with the box office at (209) 951-0196.
- More Information/Tickets: Stockton Symphony's official Holiday Pops event page and separate ticket links
As Stockton Symphony looks toward its next century, this holiday gathering puts several parts of the city's musical life within earshot of one another: a Pacific graduate continuing his career, young singers finding their ensemble voice and families making room for music together.